The ratified version of the proposed PHP 5.768 trillion 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) could be considered "unconstitutional" following the PHP 450 billion increase that the Bicameral conference committee made for unprogrammed appropriations, according to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel.
In an interview on Wednesday Pimentel said that the National Expenditure Program (NEP) pegged the budget for unprogrammed funds only at PHP 281.9-billion. However, the Bicam 'bloated' the amount to PHP 731.4 billion or an increase roughly of PHP 450 billion.
The result is an almost PHP 6 trillion budget, instead of the original proposal of only PHP 5.768 trillion, the senator said.
"It is unconstitutional," said Pimentel, adding that it can be questioned in the Supreme Court.
He also noted that the same incident also happened with the 2023 budget where the unprogrammed appropriations were bloated.
Sen. Sonny Angara, chairperson of the Committee on Finance and head of the Senate panel in the Bicam, earlier announced that they have increased the budget of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in light of the increasing tension in the West Philippine Sea.
The government's spending plan bill will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s signature.
